Knock-down box



W. oooriNoR. Knockdown Box.

(No mo rel'.)

No 242,026. Patented May 24,1881.

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N. PETER, Huh-W \Vlllin lon. l1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM OOONNOR, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

KNOCK-DOWN BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,026, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed February 3, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM OOONNOR, of the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knock- Down Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved packing-box, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the same.

My invention relates to that class of packing-boxes known to the trade as knock-down boxes, and has for its object the construction of packing-boxes capable of being taken apart when empty, to be reshipped in as small a space as possible, and in providing the lid with a locking device which, while it may be readily removed, will yet be as secure as though nailed or screwed down, all substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order that others skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains may avail themselves of its benefits, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A represent the sides of my box, provided upon their inner sides, near the outer edges, with longitudinal grooves a a, in which the bottom and top of the box are slipped. They are also provided near each end with a time tail groove, b b, to receive the ends of the box.

The end D is provided with grooves 01 d, corresponding with the grooves a a in the sides, and its outer edges are formed with a dovetail tongue to enter the grooves 12 b. The other end, D, is formed with dovetail tongues to enter the corresponding grooves in the sides, and is of such width as to fit between the longitudinal grooves a a.

The ends of the box being slipped into place, the top and bottom are slid into the grooves a a and d d, and are secured in place bya spring-catch which I prefer to make as fol- (No model.)

lows: In a recess in the upperand lower edges of the end piece D, I insert a catch, 0, actuated by a spiral spring, 0. This catch is pushed outward by the spring, and enters a hole, f, in the top and bottom boards, securely holding them in place. The catch does not extend through the top and bottom, and cannot therefore be struck or unfastened by anything with which the box may come in contact. It may be unfastened by the insertion of any suitable device into the hole f, to press back the catch, or by a small key inserted through a suitable opening in the end of the box.

It will readily be seen that the box may be taken apart by removing the top and bottom, then withdrawing the ends, and the Whole packed in a small space for reshipment, there being no screws or nails to be withdrawn.

Any suitable means may be employed for securing the spring and catches in place; but I have shown it secured by a pin, P, passed through its center, and the catches soldered to its ends.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a knock-down box, of

,sliding and removable top and bottom pieces with an end piece having vertically-acting spring-catches for lockin g said parts together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In aknock-down box, the combination of the sides and ends, dovetailed as described, with sliding top and bottom pieces, provided with holes f, and vertically-acting springcatches, all constructed and arranged to opcrate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM OGONNOR.

Witnesses:

WM. M. ROBINSON, ALFRED S. RICHARDS. 

